Vasa nervorum

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Vasa nervorum are small arteries that provide blood supply to peripheral nerves, specifically to the interior parts of nerves, [1] and their coverings. [2]

Associated pathologic conditions

Small vessels like vasa vasorum and vasa nervorum are particularly susceptible to external mechanical compression. [2] A decrease in blood flow through the vasa nervorum has been implicated in the development of diabetic neuropathy. Arteritis of the vasa nervorum leads to mononeuritis multiplex or polyneuropathy. [3] Occlusion of vasa nervorum at the level of the epineurial arterioles leads to ischemia of nerves, leading to vasculitic neuropathy. [3] [4] and has been implicated as the cause in a few cases of facial nerve paralysis. [3] During invasive diagnostic or therapeutic procedures, injecting a vasoconstrictor close to a nerve can reduce perfusion to its supplying vessel, risking ischemic nerve injury. [5]

Related Research Articles

Central nervous system Brain and spinal cord

The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain and spinal cord. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity of all parts of the bodies of bilaterally symmetric animals—i.e., all multicellular animals except sponges and jellyfish. It consists of a large nerve running from the anterior to the posterior, with the anterior end is enlarged into the brain. Not all animals with a central nervous system have a brain, although the large majority do.

Peripheral nervous system Part of the nervous system

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is one of two components that make up the nervous system of bilateral animals, with the other part being the central nervous system (CNS). The PNS consists of the nerves and ganglia outside the brain and spinal cord. The main function of the PNS is to connect the CNS to the limbs and organs, essentially serving as a relay between the brain and spinal cord and the rest of the body. Unlike the CNS, the PNS is not protected by the vertebral column and skull, or by the blood–brain barrier, which leaves it exposed to toxins and mechanical injuries.

Cranial nerves Nerves that emerge directly from the brain and the brainstem

Cranial nerves are the nerves that emerge directly from the brain, of which there are conventionally considered twelve pairs. Cranial nerves relay information between the brain and parts of the body, primarily to and from regions of the head and neck, including the special senses of vision, taste, smell, and hearing.

Pudendal nerve Main nerve of the perineum

The pudendal nerve is the main nerve of the perineum. It carries sensation from the external genitalia of both sexes and the skin around the anus and perineum, as well as the motor supply to various pelvic muscles, including the male or female external urethral sphincter and the external anal sphincter. If damaged, most commonly by childbirth, lesions may cause sensory loss or fecal incontinence. The nerve may be temporarily blocked as part of an anaesthetic procedure.

Spinal nerve Nerve that carries signals between the spinal cord and the body

A spinal nerve is a mixed nerve, which carries motor, sensory, and autonomic signals between the spinal cord and the body. In the human body there are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, one on each side of the vertebral column. These are grouped into the corresponding cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal regions of the spine. There are eight pairs of cervical nerves, twelve pairs of thoracic nerves, five pairs of lumbar nerves, five pairs of sacral nerves, and one pair of coccygeal nerves. The spinal nerves are part of the peripheral nervous system.

Ulnar nerve

In human anatomy, the ulnar nerve is a nerve that runs near the ulna bone. The ulnar collateral ligament of elbow joint is in relation with the ulnar nerve. The nerve is the largest in the human body unprotected by muscle or bone, so injury is common. This nerve is directly connected to the little finger, and the adjacent half of the ring finger, innervating the palmar aspect of these fingers, including both front and back of the tips, perhaps as far back as the fingernail beds.

Phrenic nerve

The phrenic nerve is a mixed motor/sensory nerve which originates from the C3-C5 spinal nerves in the neck. The nerve is important for breathing because it provides exclusive motor control of the diaphragm, the primary muscle of respiration. In humans, the right and left phrenic nerves are primarily supplied by the C4 spinal nerve, but there is also contribution from the C3 and C5 spinal nerves. From its origin in the neck, the nerve travels downward into the chest to pass between the heart and lungs towards the diaphragm.

Paresthesia is an abnormal sensation of the skin with no apparent physical cause. Paresthesia may be transient or chronic, and may have any of dozens of possible underlying causes. Paresthesias are usually painless and can occur anywhere on the body, but most commonly occur in the arms and legs.

Diabetic neuropathy refers to various types of nerve damage associated with diabetes mellitus. Symptoms depend on the site of nerve damage and can include motor changes such as weakness; sensory symptoms such as numbness, tingling, or pain; or autonomic changes such as urinary symptoms. These changes are thought to result from microvascular injury involving small blood vessels that supply nerves. Relatively common conditions which may be associated with diabetic neuropathy include distal symmetric polyneuropathy; third, fourth, or sixth cranial nerve palsy; mononeuropathy; mononeuropathy multiplex; diabetic amyotrophy; and autonomic neuropathy.

Ligamentum arteriosum

The ligamentum arteriosum is a small ligament that is the remnant of the ductus arteriosus formed within three weeks after birth.

Leukocytosis is a condition in which the white cell is above the normal range in the blood. It is frequently a sign of an inflammatory response, most commonly the result of infection, but may also occur following certain parasitic infections or bone tumors as well as leukemia. It may also occur after strenuous exercise, convulsions such as epilepsy, emotional stress, pregnancy and labor, anesthesia, as a side effect of medication, and epinephrine administration. There are five principal types of leukocytosis:

  1. Neutrophilia
  2. Lymphocytosis
  3. Monocytosis
  4. Eosinophilia
  5. Basophilia
Polyneuropathy Medical condition

Polyneuropathy is damage or disease affecting peripheral nerves in roughly the same areas on both sides of the body, featuring weakness, numbness, and burning pain. It usually begins in the hands and feet and may progress to the arms and legs and sometimes to other parts of the body where it may affect the autonomic nervous system. It may be acute or chronic. A number of different disorders may cause polyneuropathy, including diabetes and some types of Guillain–Barré syndrome.

Vasa vasorum Network of small blood vessels

The vasa vasorum is a network of small blood vessels that supply the walls of large blood vessels, such as elastic arteries and large veins. The name derives from Latin 'the vessels of the vessels'.

Aortic arch

The aortic arch, arch of the aorta, or transverse aortic arch is the part of the aorta between the ascending and descending aorta. The arch travels backward, so that it ultimately runs to the left of the trachea.

Inferior gluteal nerve

The inferior gluteal nerve is the main motor neuron that innervates the gluteus maximus muscle. It is responsible for the movement of the gluteus maximus in activities requiring the hip to extend the thigh, such as climbing stairs. Injury to this nerve is rare but often occurs as a complication of posterior approach to the hip during hip replacement. When damaged, one would develop gluteus maximus lurch, which is a gait abnormality which causes the individual to 'lurch' backwards to compensate lack in hip extension.

Obturator nerve

The obturator nerve in human anatomy arises from the ventral divisions of the second, third, and fourth lumbar nerves in the lumbar plexus; the branch from the third is the largest, while that from the second is often very small.

Ovarian artery

The ovarian artery is an artery that supplies oxygenated blood to the ovary in females. It arises from the abdominal aorta below the renal artery. It can be found in the suspensory ligament of the ovary, anterior to the ovarian vein and ureter.

Toxic and nutritional optic neuropathy is a group of medical disorders defined by visual impairment due to optic nerve damage secondary to a toxic substance and/or nutritional deficiency. The causes of these disorders are various, but they are linked by shared signs and symptoms, which this article will describe. In several of these disorders, both toxic and nutritional factors play a role, acting synergistically.

Nerve fascicle Bundle of funiculi (small bundles of axons)

A nerve fascicle, or fasciculus is a bundle of funiculi. A funiculus is a bundle of axons.

Nerve compression syndrome Human disease

Nerve compression syndrome or compression neuropathy, is a medical condition caused by direct pressure on a nerve. It is known colloquially as a trapped nerve, though this may also refer to nerve root compression. Its symptoms include pain, tingling, numbness and muscle weakness. The symptoms affect just one particular part of the body, depending on which nerve is affected. Nerve conduction studies help to confirm the diagnosis. In some cases, surgery may help to relieve the pressure on the nerve but this does not always relieve all the symptoms. Nerve injury by a single episode of physical trauma is in one sense a compression neuropathy but is not usually included under this heading.

References

  1. Rohkamm, Reinhard (2004). Color atlas of neurology . Ill. by Manfred Güther. Transl. rev. by Ethan Taub. [Orig. transl.: Suzyon O'Neal Wandrey]. Stuttgart [u.a.]: Thieme. pp.  90. ISBN   9781588901910.
  2. 1 2 Moore, Keith L.; Agur, Anne M.R.; Dalley, Arthur F. (2010). Clinically oriented anatomy (6th ed., [International ed.]. ed.). Philadelphia [etc.]: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Wolters Kluwer. p. 50. ISBN   9781605476520.
  3. 1 2 3 Imboden, John B.; Stone, John H.; Hellman, David B., eds. (2007). Current rheumatology diagnosis & treatment (2nd ed.). New York ; Toronto: Lange Medical Books/McGraw-Hill, Medical Pub. Division. ISBN   9780071460408.
  4. Said, G (November 1997). "Necrotizing peripheral nerve vasculitis". Neurologic Clinics. 15 (4): 835–48. doi:10.1016/s0733-8619(05)70350-9. PMID   9367967.
  5. Chelly, Jacques E., ed. (2009). Peripheral nerve blocks : a color atlas (3rd ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. p. 214. ISBN   9780781768764.